What's changed? I've stopped receiving bookings

[Susan1709]

Hello. I noticed that I've had over 300 views, but only 1 booking in the past 30 days.  Maybe its because all my weekends are booked up to the end of the year, but I don't have a single booking for 2020.  I'm starting to panic.  Any ideas on what could be going wrong? 

Thanks for your feedback!

Susan

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Susan1709 

your listing is active and bookable and you have 5.0 ratings so no problem with it. You could take better pictures and I am sure it will help a lot.

Other than that, I've heard there is a significant drop in bookings all over the world due to the crises. And since Airbnb accepted hotels and agencies to join our competition doubled. In my area prices are already low due to too many listings and I am seeing more and more of them are turning back to long term lease.

[Alon1]

@Branka-and-Silvia0 

re: 'a significant drop in bookings all over the world due to the crises.'

What crises do you refer to?

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Alon1 

I ment recession

https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/germany-economy-europe-global-recession-andy-brenner

https://www.forbes.com/sites/sergeiklebnikov/2019/10/28/here-are-the-countries-on-the-brink-of-reces...

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/sep/25/global-recession-a-serious-danger-in-2020-says-un

[Alon1]

@Branka-and-Silvia0 @Susan1709 

I would begin by addressing your middle link 'the-countries-on-the-brink-of-recession'.

It does not include USA! This is consistent with what I hear on the news: Trump has boosted the economy and it's the most likely factor to see him re-elected! 

The USA economy is relevant for many USA Airbnb Hosts who predominantly get most bookings within USA. 

Susan is a case in point. Only 11 Reviews, 10 from USA, and more specifically 8 from in state Texas.

Consequently, It seems to me that Susan has hardly hosted long enough, 4-5 months, to detect her local patterns.

Local factors are evidently vital in many States as Hosts on CC factor in seasonal adjustments.

----------

In London we have our own set of circumstances, beginning with the saturation of c. 80,000 listings.

When I began Hosting 6 - 7 years ago there were c. one tenth of current amount of listings.

The principal effect has been that I don't get many 'tourist' type of guests. Rather those who have a specific reason to be in my neighbourhood.

Despite the above, the annual cycle has remained remarkably consistent. At this time of year, November - Jan/Feb, I've never got many bookings.-- Xmas & New Years is most remarkable.

To date, I've never received a single booking for Xmas, but every year inundated with requests for NYs.

My way of dealing with it, is to get longer term for the winter months from another website Spare Room.

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Alon1 

Yes, USA is different, I agree

We host mostly guests from USA and Asia and feel a significant drop in bookings this year.  I've heard the same for other EU countries. Probably because of many new listings + hotels + recession + Turkey come-back in the game + Brexit + ... who knows what else, tourism is a very fragile business

[Alon1]

@Branka-and-Silvia0 

And as I said I don't rely much on tourism.

Quite a lot of the bookings I get are from Londoners (not necessarily UK nationals), many of whom are what I call 'Inbetweeners', waiting on permanent housing contract or jobs, foreign students, etc.

[Ann489]

@Alon1  sorry, but tRump did NOT boost our economy.   What little boost there was, was due to the previous administration.

[Alon1]

@Ann489 

I'm not here to argue politics. I only stated what I learned last week on BBC Newsnight programme.

[Eileen0]

For the past 5 years, December has always started for me with no bookings for the following year , but then they start flowing in.  I wouldn't worry about it, just keep an eye on your competitors pricing and keeping your listing up to date.  Good luck for the new year!

[Merlyn5]

I too have had a similar decrease in bookings for the month of Nov/Dec.  I have blocked several days on my calendar due to my own personal holiday commitments and no time to prepare and clean for guest visits during certain days of the week. I see that you have several days blocked as well even tho you say you're not getting the bookings.  I think the decrease in bookings is largely due to less people are traveling at this time, (summer is our peak here in the PNW) my blocked schedule is not coinciding with guest needs, and there is an abundance of choices right now for very similar accomodations and price point. In my opinion, it's just a lull, and this too shall pass.  Hope it picks up soon!